The Abduction of Virginia

[44] Another monstrous deed followed in the city, originating in lust, and attended by results not less tragical than that deed which had brought about the expulsion of the Tarquins from the city and the throne through the violation and death of Lucretia: so that the decemvirs not only came to the same end as the kings, but the reason also of their losing their power was the same. Appius Claudius was seized with a criminal passion for violating the person of a young woman of plebeian rank. Lucius Verginius, the girl's father, held an honourable rank among the centurions at Algidum, a man who was a pattern of uprightness both at home and in the service. His wife and children were brought up in the same manner. He had betrothed his daughter to Lucius Icilius, who had been tribune, a man of spirit and of approved zeal in the interest of the people. Appius, burning with desire, attempted to seduce by bribes and promises this young woman, now grown up, and of distinguished beauty; and when he perceived that all the avenues of his lust were barred by modesty, he turned his thoughts to cruel and tyrannical violence. Considering that, as the girl's father was absent, there was an opportunity for committing the wrong; he instructed a dependent of his, Marcus Claudius, to claim the girl as his slave, and not to yield to those who demanded her enjoyment of liberty pending judgment. The tool of the decemvir's lust laid hands on the girl as she was coming into the forum -- for there the elementary schools were held in booths -- calling her the daughter of his slave and a slave herself, and commanded her to follow him, declaring that he would drag her off by force if she demurred. The girl being struck dumb with terror, a crowd collected at the cries of her nurse, who besought the protection of the citizens. The popular names of her father, Verginius, and of her betrothed, Icilius, were in every one's mouth. Esteem for them gained the good-will of their acquaintances, the heinousness of the proceeding, that of the crowd. She was now safe from violence, forasmuch as the claimant said that there was no occasion for rousing the mob; that he was proceeding by law, not by force. He summoned the girl into court. Her supporters advising her to follow him, they reached the tribunal of Appius. The claimant rehearsed the farce well known to the judge, as being in presence of the actual author of the plot, that the girl, born in his house, and clandestinely transferred from thence to the house of Verginius, had been fathered on the latter: that what he stated was established by certain evidence, and that he would prove it, even if Verginius himself, who would be the principal sufferer, were judge: that meanwhile it was only fair the servant should accompany her master. The supporters of Verginia, after they had urged that Verginius was absent on business of the state, that he would be present in two days if word were sent to him, and that it was unfair that in his absence he should run any risk regarding his children, demanded that Appius should adjourn the whole matter till the arrival of the father; that he should allow the claim for her liberty pending judgment according to the law passed by himself, and not allow a maiden of ripe age to encounter the risk of her reputation before that of her liberty.

[44] Sequitur aliud in urbe nefas, ab libidine ortum, haud minus foedo euentu quam quod per stuprum caedemque Lucretiae urbe regnoque Tarquinios expulerat, ut non finis solum idem decemuiris qui regibus sed causa etiam eadem imperii amittendi esset. Ap. Claudium uirginis plebeiae stuprandae libido cepit. Pater uirginis, L. Verginius, honestum ordinem in Algido ducebat, uir exempli recti domi militiaeque. Perinde uxor instituta fuerat liberique instituebantur. Desponderat filiam L. Icilio tribunicio, uiro acri et pro causa plebis expertae uirtutis. Hanc uirginem adultam forma excellentem Appius amore amens pretio ac spe perlicere adortus, postquam omnia pudore saepta animaduerterat, ad crudelem superbamque uim animum conuertit. M. Claudio clienti negotium dedit, ut uirginem in seruitutem adsereret neque cederet secundum libertatem postulantibus uindicias, quod pater puellae abesset locum iniuriae esse ratus. Virgini uenienti in forum-ibi namque in tabernaculis litterarum ludi erant-minister decemuiri libidinis manum iniecit, serua sua natam seruamque appellans, sequique se iubebat: cunctantem ui abstracturum. Pauida puella stupente, ad clamorem nutricis fidem Quiritium implorantis fit concursus; Vergini patris sponsique Icili populare nomen celebrabatur. Notos gratia eorum, turbam indignitas rei uirgini conciliat. Iam a ui tuta erat, cum adsertor nihil opus esse multitudine concitata ait; se iure grassari, non ui. Vocat puellam in ius. Auctoribus qui aderant ut sequerentur, ad tribunal Appi peruentum est. Notam iudici fabulam petitor, quippe apud ipsum auctorem argumenti, peragit: puellam domi suae natam furtoque inde in domum Vergini translatam suppositam ei esse; id se indicio compertum adferre probaturumque uel ipso Verginio iudice, ad quem maior pars iniuriae eius pertineat; interim dominum sequi ancillam aequum esse. Aduocati puellae, cum Verginium rei publicae causa dixissent abesse, biduo adfuturum si nuntiatum ei sit, iniquum esse absentem de liberis dimicare, postulant ut rem integram in patris aduentum differat, lege ab ipso lata uindicias det secundum libertatem, neu patiatur uirginem adultam famae prius quam libertatis periculum adire.

[45] Appius prefaced his decision by observing that the very same law, which the friends of Verginius put forward as the plea of their demand, showed how strongly he himself was in favour of liberty: that liberty, however, would find secure protection in the law on this condition only, that it varied neither with respect to cases or persons. For with respect to those individuals who were claimed as free, that point of law was good, because any citizen could proceed by law in such a matter: but in the case of her who was in the hands of her father, there was no other person in whose favour her master need relinquish his right of possession. That it was his decision, therefore, that her father should be sent for: that, in the meantime, the claimant should not be deprived of the right, which allowed him to carry off the girl with him, at the same time promising that she should be produced on the arrival of him who was called her father. When there were many who murmured against the injustice of this decision rather than any one individual who ventured to protest against it, the girl's great-uncle, Publius Numitorius, and her betrothed, Icilius, appeared on the scene: and, way being made for them through the crowd, the multitude thinking that Appius could be most effectually resisted by the intervention of Icilius, the lictor declared that he had decided the matter, and attempted to remove Icilius, when he began to raise his voice. Such a monstrous injustice would have fired even a cool temper. "By the sword, Appius," said he, "must I be removed hence, that you may secure silence about that which you wish to be concealed. This young woman I am about to marry, to have and to hold as my lawful wife. Wherefore call together all the lictors of your colleagues also; order the rods and axes to be got ready: the betrothed wife of Icilius shall not pass the night outside her father's house. No: though you have taken from us the aid of our tribunes, and the power of appeal to the commons of Rome, the two bulwarks for the maintenance of our liberty, absolute authority has not therefore been given to your lust over our wives and children. Vent your fury on our backs and necks; let chastity at least be secure. If violence shall be offered to her, I shall implore the protection of the citizens here present on behalf of my betrothed, Verginius that of the soldiers on behalf of his only daughter, all of us the protection of gods and men, nor shall you carry that sentence into effect without our blood. I demand of you, Appius, consider again and again to what lengths you are proceeding. Verginius, when he comes, will see to it, what conduct he is to pursue with respect to his daughter: only let him be assured of this, that if he yields to the claims of this man, he will have to look out for another match for his daughter. As for my part, in vindicating the liberty of my spouse, life shall leave me sooner than honour."

[45] Appius decreto praefatur quam libertati fauerit eam ipsam legem declarare quam Vergini amici postulationi suae praetendant; ceterum ita in ea firmum libertati fore praesidium, si nec causis nec personis uariet. In iis enim qui adserantur in libertatem, quia quiuis lege agere possit, id iuris esse: in ea quae in patris manu sit, neminem esse alium cui dominus possessione cedat. Placere itaque patrem arcessiri; interea iuris sui iacturam adsertorem non facere quin ducat puellam sistendamque in aduentum eius qui pater dicatur promittat. Aduersus iniuriam decreti cum multi magis fremerent quam quisquam unus recusare auderet, P. Numitorius puellae auus et sponsus Icilius interueniunt; dataque inter turbam uia, cum multitudo Icili maxime interuentu resisti posse Appio crederet, lictor decresse ait uociferantemque Icilium submouet. Placidum quoque ingenium tam atrox iniuria accendisset. 'Ferro hinc tibi submouendus sum, Appi' inquit, 'ut tacitum feras quod celari uis. Virginem ego hanc sum ducturus nuptamque pudicam habiturus. Proinde omnes collegarum quoque lictores conuoca; expediri uirgas et secures iube; non manebit extra domum patris sponsa Icili. Non si tribunicium auxilium et prouocationem plebi Romanae, duas arces libertatis tuendae, ademistis, ideo in liberos quoque nostros coniugesque regnum uestrae libidini datum est. Saeuite in tergum et in ceruices nostras: pudicitia saltem in tuto sit. Huic si uis adferetur, ego praesentium Quiritium pro sponsa, Verginius militum pro unica filia, omnes deorum hominumque implorabimus fidem, neque tu istud unquam decretum sine caede nostra referes. Postulo Appi, etiam atque etiam consideres quo progrediare. Verginius uiderit de filia ubi uenerit quid agat; hoc tantum sciat sibi si huius uindiciis cesserit condicionem filiae quaerendam esse. Me uindicantem sponsam in libertatem uita citius deseret quam fides.'

[46] The multitude was now roused, and a contest seemed threatening. The lictors had taken their stand around Icilius; they did not, however, proceed beyond threats, while Appius said that it was not Verginia who was being defended by Icilius, but that, being a restless man, and even now breathing the spirit of the tribuneship, he was seeking an opportunity for creating a disturbance. That he would not afford him the chance of doing so on that day; but in order that he might now know that the concession had been made not to his petulance, but to the absent Verginius, to the name of father and to liberty, that he would not decide the case on that day, nor introduce a decree: that he would request Marcus Claudius to forego somewhat of his right, and to suffer the girl to be bailed till the next day. However, unless the father attended on the following day, he gave notice to Icilius and to men like Icilius, that, as the framer of it, he would maintain his own law, as a decemvir, his firmness: that he would certainly not assemble the lictors of his colleagues to put down the promoters of sedition; that he would be content with his own. When the time of this act of injustice had been deferred, and the friends of the maiden had retired, it was first of all determined that the brother of Icilius, and the son of Numitorius, both active young men, should proceed thence straight to the city gate, and that Verginius should be summoned from the camp with all possible haste: that the safety of the girl depended on his being present next day at the proper time, to protect her from wrong. They proceeded according to directions, and galloping at full speed, carried the news to her father. When the claimant of the maiden was pressing Icilius to lay claim to her, and give bail for her appearance, and Icilius said that that was the very thing that was being done, purposely wasting the time, until the messengers sent to the camp should finish their journey, the multitude raised their hands on all sides, and every one showed himself ready to go surety for Icilius. And he, with his eyes full of tears, said: "This is a great favour; to-morrow I will avail myself of your assistance: at present I have sufficient sureties." Thus Verginia was bailed on the security of her relations. Appius, having delayed a short time, that he might not appear to have sat on account of that case alone, when no one made application to him, all other concerns being set aside owing to the interest displayed in this one case, betook himself home, and wrote to his colleague in the camp, not to grant leave of absence to Verginius, and even to keep him in confinement. This wicked scheme was too late, as it deserved: for Verginius, having already obtained his leave had set out at the first watch, while the letter regarding his detention was delivered on the following morning without effect.

[46] Concitata multitudo erat certamenque instare uidebatur. Lictores Icilium circumsteterant; nec ultra minas tamen processum est, cum Appius non Verginiam defendi ab Icilio, sed inquietum hominem et tribunatum etiam nunc spirantem locum seditionis quaerere diceret. Non praebiturum se illi eo die materiam, sed, ut iam sciret non id petulantiae suae sed Verginio absenti et patrio nomini et libertati datum, ius eo die se non dicturum neque decretum interpositurum: a M. Claudio petiturum ut decederet iure suo uindicarique puellam in posterum diem pateretur; quod nisi pater postero die adfuisset, denuntiare se Icilio similibusque Icili neque legi suae latorem neque decemuiro constantiam defore; nec se utique collegarum lictores conuocaturum ad coercendos seditionis auctores: contentum se suis lictoribus fore. Cum dilatum tempus iniuriae esset secessissentque aduocati puellae, placuit omnium primum fratrem Icili filiumque Numitori, impigros iuuenes, pergere inde recta ad portam, et quantum adcelerari posset Verginium acciri e castris; in eo uerti puellae salutem, si postero die uindex iniuriae ad tempus praesto esset. Iussi pergunt citatisque equis nuntium ad patrem perferunt. Cum instaret adsertor puellae ut uindicaret sponsoresque daret, atque id ipsum agi diceret Icilius, sedulo tempus terrens dum praeciperent iter nuntii missi in castra, manus tollere undique multitudo et se quisque paratum ad spondendum Icilio ostendere. Atque ille lacrimabundus 'gratum est' inquit; 'crastina die uestra opera utar; sponsorum nunc satis est.' Ita uindicatur Verginia spondentibus propinquis. Appius paulisper moratus ne eius rei causa sedisse uideretur, postquam omissis rebus aliis prae cura unius nemo adibat, domum se recepit collegisque in castra scribit, ne Verginio commeatum dent atque etiam in custodia habeant. Improbum consilium serum, ut debuit, fuit et iam commeatu sumpto profectus Verginius prima uigilia erat, cum postero die mane de retinendo eo nequiquam litterae redduntur.

[47] But in the city, at daybreak, when the citizens were standing in the forum on the tiptoe of expectation, Verginius, clad in mourning, conducted his daughter, also shabbily attired, attended by some matrons, into the forum, with a considerable body of supporters. He there began to go around and solicit people: and not only entreated their aid given out of kindness, but demanded it as a right: saying that he stood daily in the field of battle in defence of their wives and children, nor was there any other man, whose brave and intrepid deeds in war could be recorded in greater numbers. What availed it, if, while the city was secure from dangers, their children had to endure these calamities, which were the worst that could be dreaded if it were taken? Uttering these words just like one delivering a public harangue, he solicited the people individually. Similar arguments were put forward by Icilius: the attendant throng of women produced more effect by their silent tears than any words. With a mind stubbornly proof against all this -- such an attack of frenzy, rather than of love, had perverted his mind -- Appius ascended the tribunal, and when the claimant went on to complain briefly, that justice had not been administered to him on the preceding day through party influence, before either he could go through with his claim, or an opportunity of reply was afforded to Verginius, Appius interrupted him. The preamble with which he prefaced his decision, ancient authors may have handed down perhaps with some degree of truth; but since I nowhere find any that is probable in the case of so scandalous a decision, I think it best to state the bare fact, which is generally admitted, that he passed a sentence consigning her to slavery. At first a feeling of bewilderment astounded all, caused by amazement at so heinous a proceeding: then for some time silence prevailed. Then, when Marcus Claudius proceeded to seize the maiden, while the matrons stood around, and was met by the piteous lamentations of the women, Verginius, menacingly stretching forth his hands toward Appius, said: "To Icilius, and not to you, Appius, have I betrothed my daughter, and for matrimony, not for prostitution, have I brought her up. Would you have men gratify their lust promiscuously, like cattle and wild beasts? Whether these persons will endure such things, I know not; I do not think that those will do so who have arms in their hands." When the claimant of the girl was repulsed by the crowd of women and supporters who were standing around her, silence was proclaimed by the crier.

[47] At in urbe prima luce cum ciuitas in foro exspectatione erecta staret, Verginius sordidatus filiam secum obsoleta ueste comitantibus aliquot matronis cum ingenti aduocatione in forum deducit. Circumire ibi et prensare homines coepit et non orare solum precariam opem, sed pro debita petere: se pro liberis eorum ac coniugibus cottidie in acie stare, nec alium uirum esse cuius strenue ac ferociter facta in bello plura memorari possent: quid prodesse si, incolumi urbe, quae capta ultima timeantur liberis suis sint patienda? Haec prope contionabundus circumibat homines. Similia his ab Icilio iactabantur. Comitatus muliebris plus tacito fletu quam ulla uox mouebat. Aduersus quae omnia obstinato animo Appius-tanta uis amentiae uerius quam amoris mentem turbauerat-in tribunal escendit, et ultro querente pauca petitore quod ius sibi pridie per ambitionem dictum non esset, priusquam aut ille postulatum perageret aut Verginio respondendi daretur locus, Appius interfatur. Quem decreto sermonem praetenderit, forsan aliquem uerum auctores antiqui tradiderint: quia nusquam ullum in tanta foeditate decreti ueri similem inuenio, id quod constat nudum uidetur proponendum, decresse uindicias secundum seruitutem. Primo stupor omnes admiratione rei tam atrocis defixit; silentium inde aliquamdiu tenuit. Dein cum M. Claudius, circumstantibus matronis, iret ad prehendendam uirginem, lamentabilisque eum mulierum comploratio excepisset, Verginius intentans in Appium manus, 'Icilio' inquit, 'Appi, non tibi filiam despondi et ad nuptias, non ad stuprum educaui. Placet pecudum ferarumque ritu promisce in concubitus ruere? Passurine haec isti sint nescio: non spero esse passuros illos qui arma habent.' Cum repelleretur adsertor uirginis a globo mulierum circumstantiumque aduocatorum, silentium factum per praeconem.

[48] The decemvir, as if he had lost his reason owing to his passion, stated that not only from Icilius's abusive harangue of the day before, and the violence of Verginius, of which he could produce the entire Roman people as witnesses, but from authentic information also he had ascertained that secret meetings were held in the city throughout the night with the object of stirring up sedition: that he, accordingly, being aware of that danger, had come down with armed soldiers, not to molest any peaceable person, but in order to punish, as the majesty of the government demanded, those who disturbed the tranquility of the state. "It will, therefore," said he, "be better to remain quiet: go, lictor, disperse the crowd, and clear the way for the master to lay hold of his slave." After he had thundered out these words, full of wrath, the multitude of their own accord dispersed, and the girl stood deserted, a sacrifice to injustice. Then Verginius, when he saw no aid anywhere, said: "I beg you, Appius, first pardon a father's grief, if I have attacked you too harshly: in the next place, suffer me to ask the nurse here in presence of the maiden, what all this means, that, if I have been falsely called her father, I may depart hence with mind more tranquil." Permission having been granted, he drew the girl and the nurse aside to the booths near the chapel of Cloacina, which now go by the name of the New Booths:[53] and there, snatching a knife from a butcher, "In this, the only one way I can, my daughter," said he, "do I secure to you your liberty." He then plunged it into the girl's breast, and looking back toward the tribunal, said "With this blood I devote thee,[54] Appius, and thy head!" Appius, aroused by the cry raised at so dreadful a deed, ordered Verginius to be seized. He, armed with the knife, cleared the way whithersoever he went, until, protected by the crowd of persons attending him, he reached the gate. Icilius and Numitorius took up the lifeless body and showed it to the people; they deplored the villainy of Appius, the fatal beauty of the maiden, and the cruel lot of the father.[55] The matrons, following, cried out: Was this the condition of rearing children? Were these the rewards of chastity? And other things which female grief on such occasions suggests, when their complaints are so much the more affecting, in proportion as their grief is more intense from their want of self-control. The men, and more especially Icilius, spoke of nothing but the tribunician power, and the right of appeal to the people which had been taken from them, and gave vent to their indignation in regard to the condition of public affairs.

[48] Decemuir alienatus ad libidinem animo negat ex hesterno tantum conuicio Icili uiolentiaque Vergini, cuius testem populum Romanum habeat, sed certis quoque indiciis compertum se habere nocte tota coetus in urbe factos esse ad mouendam seditionem. Itaque se haud inscium eius dimicationis cum armatis descendisse, non ut quemquam quietum uiolaret, sed ut turbantes ciuitatis otium pro maiestate imperii coerceret. 'Proinde quiesse erit melius. I,' inquit, 'lictor, submoue turbam et da uiam domino ad prehendendum mancipium.' Cum haec intonuisset plenus irae, multitudo ipsa se sua sponte dimouit desertaque praeda iniuriae puella stabat. Tum Verginius ubi nihil usquam auxilii uidit, 'quaeso' inquit, 'Appi, primum ignosce patrio dolori, si quo inclementius in te sum inuectus; deinde sinas hic coram uirgine nutricem percontari quid hoc rei sit, ut si falso pater dictus sum aequiore hinc animo discedam.' Data uenia seducit filiam ac nutricem prope Cloacinae ad tabernas, quibus nunc Nouis est nomen, atque ibi ab lanio cultro arrepto, 'hoc te uno quo possum' ait, 'modo, filia, in libertatem uindico.' Pectus deinde puellae transfigit, respectansque ad tribunal 'te' inquit, 'Appi, tuumque caput sanguine hoc consecro.' Clamore ad tam atrox facinus orto excitus Appius comprehendi Verginium iubet. Ille ferro quacumque ibat uiam facere, donec multitudine etiam prosequentium tuente ad portam perrexit. Icilius Numitoriusque exsangue corpus sublatum ostentant populo; scelus Appi, puellae infelicem formam, necessitatem patris deplorant. Sequentes clamitant matronae, eamne liberorum procreandorum condicionem, ea pudicitiae praemia esse?- cetera, quae in tali re muliebris dolor, quo est maestior imbecillo animo, eo miserabilia magis querentibus subicit. Virorum et maxime Icili uox tota tribuniciae potestatis ac prouocationis ad populum ereptae publicarumque indignationum erat.

[49] The multitude was excited partly by the heinousness of the misdeed, partly by the hope of recovering their liberty on a favourable opportunity. Appius first ordered Icilius to be summoned before him, then, when he refused to come, to be seized: finally, when the officers were not allowed an opportunity of approaching him, he himself, proceeding through the crowd with a body of young patricians, ordered him to be led away to prison. Now not only the multitude, but Lucius Valerius and Marcus Horatius, the leaders of the multitude, stood around Icilius and, having repulsed the lictor, declared, that, if Appius should proceed according to law, they would protect Icilius from one who was but a private citizen; if he should attempt to employ force, that even in that case they would be no unequal match for him. Hence arose a violent quarrel. The decemvir's lictor attacked Valerius and Horatius: the fasces were broken by the people. Appius ascended the tribunal; Horatius and Valerius followed him. They were attentively listened to by the assembly: the voice of the decemvir was drowned with clamour. Now Valerius, as if he possessed the authority to do so, was ordering the lictors to depart from one who was but a private citizen, when Appius, whose spirits were now broken, alarmed for his life, betook himself into a house in the vicinity of the forum, unobserved by his enemies, with his head covered up. Spurius Oppius, in order to assist his colleague, rushed into the forum by the opposite side: he saw their authority overpowered by force. Distracted then by various counsels and by listening to several advisers from every side, he had become hopelessly confused: eventually he ordered the senate to be convened. Because the official acts of the decemvirs seemed displeasing to the greater portion of the patricians, this step quieted the people with the hope that the government would be abolished through the senate. The senate was of opinion that the commons should not be stirred up, and that much more effectual measures should be taken lest the arrival of Verginius should cause any commotion in the army.

[49] Concitatur multitudo partim atrocitate sceleris, partim spe per occasionem repetendae libertatis. Appius nunc uocari Icilium, nunc retractantem arripi, postremo, cum locus adeundi apparitoribus non daretur, ipse cum agmine patriciorum iuuenum per turbam uadens, in uincula duci iubet. Iam circa Icilium non solum multitudo sed duces quoque multitudinis erant, L. Valerius et M. Horatius, qui repulso lictore, si iure ageret, uindicare se a priuato Icilium aiebant; si uim adferre conaretur, ibi quoque haud impares fore. Hinc atrox rixa oritur. Valerium Horatiumque lictor decemuiri inuadit: franguntur a multitudine fasces. In contionem Appius escendit: sequuntur Horatius Valeriusque. Eos contio audit: decemuiro obstrepitur. Iam pro imperio Valerius discedere a priuato lictores iubebat, cum fractis animis Appius, uitae metuens, in domum se propinquam foro insciis aduersariis capite obuoluto recipit. Sp. Oppius, ut auxilio collegae esset, in forum ex altera parte inrumpit. Videt imperium ui uictum. Agitatus deinde consiliis ad quae ex omni parte adsentiendo multis auctoribus trepidauerat, senatum postremo uocari iussit. Ea res, quod magnae parti patrum displicere acta decemuirorum uidebantur, spe per senatum finiendae potestatis eius multitudinem sedauit. Senatus nec plebem inritandam censuit et multo magis prouidendum ne quid Vergini aduentus in exercitu motus faceret.

[50] Accordingly, some of the junior patricians, being sent to the camp which was at that time on Mount Vecilius, announced to the decemvirs that they should do their utmost to keep the soldiers from mutinying. There Verginius occasioned greater commotion than he had left behind him in the city. For besides that he was seen coming with a body of nearly four hundred men, who, enraged in consequence of the disgraceful nature of the occurrence, had accompanied him from the city, the unsheathed knife, and his being himself besmeared with blood, attracted to him the attention of the entire camp; and the gowns,[56] seen in many parts of the camp had caused the number of people from the city to appear much greater than it really was. When they asked him what was the matter, in consequence of his weeping, for a long time he did not utter a word. At length, as soon as the crowd of those running together became quiet after the disturbance, and silence ensued, he related everything in order as it had occurred.

Then extending his hands toward heaven, addressing his fellow-soldiers, he begged of them, not to impute to him that which was the crime of Appius Claudius, nor to abhor him as the murderer of his child. To him the life of his daughter was dearer than his own, if she had been allowed to live in freedom and chastity. When he beheld her dragged to prostitution as if she were a slave, thinking it better that his child should be lost by death rather than by dishonour, through compassion for her he had apparently fallen into cruelty. Nor would he have survived his daughter had he not entertained the hope of avenging her death by the aid of his fellow-soldiers. For they too had daughters, sisters, and wives; nor was the lust of Appius Claudius extinguished with his daughter; but in proportion as it escaped with greater impunity, so much the more unbridled would it be. That by the calamity of another a warning was given to them to guard against a similar injury. As far as he was concerned, his wife had been taken from him by destiny; his daughter, because she could no longer have lived as a chaste woman, had met with an unfortunate but honourable death; that there was now no longer in his family an opportunity for the lust of Appius; that from any other violence of his he would defend his person with the same spirit with which he had vindicated that of his daughter: that others should take care for themselves and their children. While he uttered these words in a loud voice, the multitude responded with a shout that they would not be backward, either to avenge his wrongs or to defend their own liberty. And the civilians mixing with the crowd of soldiers, by uttering the same complaints, and by showing how much more shocking these things must have appeared when seen than when merely heard of, and also by telling them that the disturbance at Rome was now almost over -- and others having subsequently arrived who asserted that Appius, having with difficulty escaped with life, had gone into exile -- all these individuals so far influenced them that there was a general cry to arms, and having pulled up the standards, they set out for Rome. The decemvirs, being alarmed at the same time both by what they now saw, as well as by what they had heard had taken place at Rome, ran about to different parts of the camp to quell the commotion. While they proceeded with mildness no answer was returned to them: if any of them attempted to exert authority, the soldiers replied that they were men and were armed. They proceeded in a body to the city and occupied the Aventine, encouraging the commons, as each person met them, recover their liberty, and elect tribunes of the people; no other expression of violence was heard. Spurius Oppius held a meeting of the senate; it was resolved that no harsh measures should be adopted, inasmuch as occasion for sedition had been given by themselves. Three men of consular rank, Spurius Tarpeius, Gaius Julius, Publius Sulpicius, were sent as ambassadors, to inquire, in the name of the senate, by whose order they had deserted the camp? Or what they meant by having occupied the Aventine in arms, and, turning away their arms from the enemy, having seized their own country? They were at no loss for an answer: but they wanted some one to give the answer, there being as yet no certain leader, and individuals were not bold enough to expose themselves to the invidious office. The multitude only cried out with one accord, that they should send Lucius Valerius and Marcus Horatius to them, saying that they would give their answer to them.

[50] Itaque missi iuniores patrum in castra, quae tum in monte Vecilio erant, nuntiant decemuiris ut omni ope ab seditione milites contineant. Ibi Verginius maiorem quam reliquerat in urbe motum exciuit. Nam praeterquam quod agmine prope quadringentorum hominum ueniens, qui ab urbe indignitate rei accensi comites ei se dederant, conspectus est, strictum etiam telum respersusque ipse cruore tota in se castra conuertit. Et togae multifariam in castris uisae maioris aliquanto quam erat speciem urbanae multitudinis fecerant. Quaerentibus quid rei esset, flens diu uocem non misit; tandem, ut iam ex trepidatione concurrentium turba constitit ac silentium fuit, ordine cuncta, ut gesta erant, exposuit. Supinas deinde tendens manus, commilitones appellans orabat ne quod scelus Ap. Claudi esset sibi attribuerent neu se ut parricidam liberum auersarentur. Sibi uitam filiae sua cariorem fuisse, si liberae ac pudicae uiuere licitum fuisset: cum uelut seruam ad stuprum rapi uideret, morte amitti melius ratum quam contumelia liberos, misericordia se in speciem crudelitatis lapsum; nec superstitem filiae futurum fuisse, nisi spem ulciscendae mortis eius in auxilio commilitonum habuisset. Illis quoque filias sorores coniugesque esse, nec cum filia sua libidinem Ap. Claudi exstinctam esse, sed quo impunitior sit eo effrenatiorem fore. Aliena calamitate documentum datum illis cauendae similis iniuriae. Quod ad se attineat, uxorem sibi fato ereptam, filiam, quia non ultra pudica uictura fuerit, miseram sed honestam mortem occubuisse; non esse iam Appi libidini locum in domo sua: ab alia uiolentia eius eodem se animo suum corpus uindicaturum quo uindicauerit filiae: ceteri sibi ac liberis suis consulerent. Haec Verginio uociferanti succlamabat multitudo nec illius dolori nec suae libertati se defuturos. Et immixti turbae militum togati, eadem illa querendo docendoque quanto uisa quam audita indigniora potuerint uideri, simul profligatam iam rem nuntiando Romae esse, insecutis qui Appium prope interemptum in exsilium abisse dicerent, perpulerunt ut ad arma conclamaretur uellerentque signa et Romam proficiscerentur. Decemuiri simul iis quae uidebant iisque quae acta Romae audierant perturbati, alius in aliam partem castrorum ad sedandos motus discurrunt. Et leniter agentibus responsum non redditur: imperium si quis inhiberet, et uiros et armatos se esse respondetur. Eunt agmine ad urbem et Auentinum insidunt, ut quisque occurrerat plebem ad repetendam libertatem creandosque tribunos plebis adhortantes. Alia uox nulla uiolenta audita est. Senatum Sp. Oppius habet. Nihil placet aspere agi; quippe ab ipsis datum locum seditioni esse. Mittuntur tres legati consulares, Sp. Tarpeius C. Iulius P. Sulpicius, qui quaererent senatus uerbis cuius iussu castra deseruissent aut quid sibi uellent qui armati Auentinum obsedissent belloque auerso ab hostibus patriam suam cepissent. Non defuit quod responderetur: deerat qui daret responsum, nullodum certo duce nec satis audentibus singulis inuidiae se offerre. Id modo a multitudine conclamatum est ut L. Valerium et M. Horatium ad se mitterent: his se daturos responsum.

[51] The ambassadors being dismissed, Verginius reminded the soldiers that a little while before they had been embarrassed in a matter of no very great difficulty, because the multitude was without a head; and that the answer given, though not inexpedient, was the result rather of an accidental agreement than of a concerted plan. His opinion was, that ten persons should be elected to preside over the management of state affairs, and that they should be called tribunes of the soldiers, a title suited to their military dignity. When that honour was offered to himself in the first instance, he replied, "Reserve for an occasion more favourable to both of us your kind recognition of me. The fact of my daughter being unavenged, does not allow any office to be agreeable to me, nor, in the present disturbed condition of the state, is it advantageous that those should be at your head who are most exposed to party animosity. If I am of any use, the benefit to be gained from my services will be just as great while I am a private individual." They accordingly elected military tribunes ten in number.

[51] Dimissis legatis, admonet milites Verginius in re non maxima paulo ante trepidatum esse, quia sine capite multitudo fuerit, responsumque, quamquam non inutiliter, fortuito tamen magis consensu quam communi consilio esse; placere decem creari qui summae rei praeessent militarique honore tribunos militum appellari. Cum ad eum ipsum primum is honos deferretur, 'melioribus meis uestrisque rebus reseruate' inquit, 'ista de me iudicia. Nec mihi filia inulta honorem ullum iucundum esse patitur, nec in perturbata re publica eos utile est praeesse uobis qui proximi inuidiae sint. Si quis usus mei est, nihilo minor ex priuato capietur.' ita decem numero tribunos militares creant.